Priests
Overview
Priests are taken from among the community and appointed for the community in the things that pertain to God, in order to "offer gifts and sacrifices for sins" (Heb. 5:1). Therefore, they deal with others as brothers. By their vocation and ordination they are set apart in a certain sense within the midst of God's people. But this is so, not that they may be separated from the people of God or from anyone, but so that they may be totally dedicated to the work for which the Lord has called them. They cannot be of service to the people if they remain strangers to the life and conditions of their people, and because of their total consecration to the mission of Christ, they are even more fully committed to their people. - Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests
There are 70 diocesan priests and 49 priests who belong to religious communities in active ministry in the Diocese of Raleigh. Fifty of the diocesan priests have advanced degrees in Theology, Canon Law, or other disciplines. The median age of the diocesan priests in active ministry is 51 years of age. The ratio of priests to people is 1 priest for every 1,450 registered Catholics. There are 25 diocesan priests who are retired or ill. Their median age is 71 years of age.